Learning About Content Marketing from the Oprah Winfrey Network

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Have you caught a minute of the Oprah Winfrey Network yet? My guess is no, because it’s really hard to catch just a minute.

I’m not an avid Oprah devotee. Although I admire her achievements, I’ve never watched a full episode of the Oprah Winfrey show or read O Magazine. If they are anything like the OWN programming, I’ve been missing out.

According to Nielsen, the Oprah Winfrey Network delivered just over a million viewers in Saturday primetime. AdWeek reported that only two networks attracted more viewers during that time for the target market of women aged 25-54: USA and ESPN.

Why such the fuss? Other than the fact that it’s a new network from legendary Oprah Winfrey, the content tells stories that people can relate to. It educates, entertains, and engages the viewer - as all content marketing should do. From Oprah's content I learned:

Dr. Phil, Dr. Oz and Suze Ormond have a good sense of humor.

Anyone I meet could be a hoarder.

Diane Sawyer is a self-acclaimed “geek.”

In the late eighties, people in a town in West Virginia thought you could get AIDS by swimming in a pool. And, some of them still think this.

Of course, there are already critics of the programming. Which is even more testament to the fact that it’s attention grabbing content. Kudos Oprah! I can’t wait to see what else is in store. And, I love the fact that good content has converted me into a fan.